Rob Ford discharged from hospital after cancer surgery

Rob Ford, former Toronto mayor and current city councillor, was dischargedfrom a local hospital on Tuesday, two weeks after his cancer surgery.

Fordunderwent surgery at Mount Sinai Hospitalon May 11to remove a cancerous tumour in his abdomen.

The procedure went as expected and doctorsremoved all the existing growths without causing damageto any internal structures, according to Dan Jacobs, Ford'schief of staff.

Ford is now in the next stage of his treatment to build hisstrength at home, Jacobs said in a statement on Tuesday.

Just an hour after he was discharged, a smiling and thinner Ford appeared at city hall and spoke to reporters.

Ford said he was told to go home, but he wantedto stop bycity hall to "make a couple calls" and "touch base with a few people."

Tumour donated to research

Ford said he was discharged right on time doctors estimated it would take about two weeks after the surgery but the first recovery stagewas filled with "excruciating pain."

"For the first 10 days, I was just basically crying like a baby." He said."It was so painful. I couldn't get up, I couldn't do anything."

The cancer journeyhas been an eye-opening experience, Ford said, and he wants to remind people not totake anything for granted.

"I wouldn't want anybody to go through what I went through, but hope people can learn from what I have gone through," he said.

Ford added that he has donated his tumour to research.

Ford, who will turn46 on Thursday, said he expectstospendabout four months recoveringfrom the surgery.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 2014in the midst of his campaign to be re-elected as mayor. He dropped out of the mayor's race and won a council seat.

Hopes to save the Gardiner

Ford also wasted no time before weighing in on one of the most contentiousdebates currently in front of city councillors: the future of the eastern stretch of the Gardiner Expressway.

• What you need to know about the Gardineroptions
• John Tory favours hybrid option for eastern Gardiner Expressway

Ford said he wants to save the easternGardiner in its existing form, and opposes tearing down the aging expressway in favour of a surface route. Nor is he a fan of the so-called hybrid option that would reroute the expressway.

A final report will be presented to councilwith a recommendation from staff about the best optionon June 21.

Ford said he will try to get back to city hall in time for the June vote.