WATCH: Global’s Mark Carcasole gives us the latest update on the health of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford remains in Humber River Hospital after being diagnosed with a tumour in his abdomen.
Ford attended the hospital Wednesday after complaining of abdominal pain that had persisted for “at least three months” but got worse in the past 24 hours, Dr. Rueben Devlin said.
He was admitted for further examination, at which time doctors established a working diagnosis of a tumour after doing a CT scan.
WATCH: Rob Ford’s director of communications says there is no update in Ford’s condition
Ford’s brother and campaign manager Councillor Doug Ford also spoke to media Wednesday evening.
“It saddens me that I have to be here today,” Doug told reporters.
He said Rob was in “good spirits” and asked that the family be given a few days to deal with the news.
When asked if Ford plans to drop out of the mayoral race to focus on his health, Doug said “no comment.”
The final day for a mayoral candidate to take their name off the ballot is Friday, Sept. 12. at 2 p.m.
“I want to see him back in good health as soon as possible and back where he would want to be – with us at the debating tables talking about the city we all love,” fellow candidate John Tory said in a statement released Wednesday night.
Ford’s communication officer Amin Massoudi told reporters on Thursday that business is carrying on as usual at city hall while repeating a call for privacy.
“We are dealing with the constituents that are contacting us and helping the Toronto residents and doing the work of the mayor’s office as we were,” Massoudi said.
“I just want to reiterate the request from the mayor’s family for some privacy from the media at this time.”
“I also want to thank the residents of Toronto for the outpouring of support that we’ve been receiving for the last little while.”
WATCH: Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong sends well wishes to Rob Ford
Many others took to Twitter to leave their well wishes for Ford and his family, including Olivia Chow and Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly.
Ford has been hospitalized twice before during his mayoralty: For a kidney stone in 2011 and once with asthma problems in 2012.
And in 2009 Ford, then a councillor, had a tumour removed from his appendix.
Ford is running for re-election; recent polls have put him in second place among those surveyed, with John Tory in first and Olivia Chow in third.
Toronto’s election is Oct. 27.
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