TORONTO - Olivia Chow, whose husband former NDP leader Jack Layton died from cancer, says she's reached out to offer her support to ailing Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
Doctors are expected to provide an update this afternoon on his health, a full week after they found a tumour in his abdomen.
Chow says she called the mayor's brother Doug Ford — who is now her political rival in the mayoral race — after Rob Ford was admitted to hospital last week.
She says she asked him to pass on her prayers and thoughts to the Ford family because she knew "how difficult it is."
Chow says Coun. Doug Ford called her a few days later to thank her for her support.
The mayor is still running for councillor in the ward that he represented for a decade before he took the top job in 2010.
Today's news conference will take place at the city's Mount Sinai Hospital, where Ford has been undergoing tests to determine the exact nature of his tumour.
Speculation about the seriousness of the controversial mayor's condition has been mounting ever since it was announced last week that doctors had discovered a fair-sized tumour when the 45-year-old politician sought treatment for "unbearable" abdominal pain.
Ford had an appendix tumour and part of his colon removed in 2009. His father, former Ontario politician Doug Ford Sr., died in 2006 of colon cancer three months after he was diagnosed with the disease.
Ford — who has turned into an international celebrity due to a series of scandals — returned to office just over two months ago after a stint in rehab for substance abuse issues.
His role as mayor has been largely symbolic since last November, when he was stripped of most of his powers following his admissions of alcohol abuse and drug use during "drunken stupors.''
His confessions came after months of denials and were followed by videos which appeared to show the mayor smoking crack cocaine and making offensive and profane comments.
Ford apologized to those hurt by his words and actions, saying he regretted some of his past choices but said he blamed no one but himself for his misconduct.
