TORONTO - Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was diagnosed with a tumour on Wednesday after seeking treatment hours earlier for "unbearable" abdominal pain.
The CEO of the Humber River Hospital told reporters the mayor has dealt with abdominal pains for over three months.
"He was having left-lower-quadrant abdominal pain ... it's been going on for more than three months but today it became unbearable for him," Dr. Rueben Devlin said at a hastily-called press conference Wednesday night.
"Examination and investigation today revealed that he has a tumour. The mayor has been admitted to Humber River Hospital to allow for further investigation to obtain a definitive diagnosis."
Ford's brother, Coun. Doug Ford, said the mayor was coping well.
"He's in good spirits and just thanks everyone for all the well wishes," the older Ford said, adding that his brother hadn't complained of his abdominal pain to him in the past.
"He had stomach pain, I had breakfast with him today over at Perkins and he said his stomach was bothering him. He went to the doctor's and then the doctor sent him over to Humber and we're here today."
The mayor will be kept in hospital over the next few days as tests are conducted to determine more details about the tumour, Devlin said, adding that it was a CT scan which brought physicians to their early diagnosis.
"He's being investigated further and we need to determine exactly what type of tumour it is and then we can decide on what treatment is required," Devlin said.
A tumour is a mass, a growth of abnormal cells. Some are benign, meaning they are not cancerous while others are malignant or cancerous.
Benign tumours typically are localized; malignant tumours can spread or metastasize, triggering secondary cancers in other parts of the body.
Rob Ford is running for re-election in the city's Oct. 27 municipal vote. His brother wouldn't comment how the tumour diagnosis might impact his campaign.