Rob Ford tributes pile up as ailing former Toronto mayor battles cancer

Toronto Mayor John Tory this morning joined a list of well-wishers sending messages to Coun. Rob Ford as the former mayor battles cancer in hospital surrounded by his family.

• Rob Ford's cancer not responding to latest chemo treatment, staffer says
• Rob Ford's cancer battle continues 'with his family beside him'
• Rob Ford pursues precision treatment in battle against rare cancer

Tory, who clashed with Ford during the 2014 mayoral campaign before health reasons forced Ford out of the race, said on Twitter Friday morning that his thoughts are with Ford "as he continues to battle cancer."

Former NDP MPOlivia Chow, who ran against Doug Ford and Tory in Toronto's 2014 municipal election, offered her best wishes.

Coun. Norm Kelly,who served as Ford's deputymayor,asked people Thursday night to keep him in their thoughts.

Canadian hip-hop icon Maestro and singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith have both offered their support.

Toronto Coun.Joe Cressy spoke with CBC Friday morning to offer his bestwishes.

Coun. Joe Cressy wishes Rob Ford the best

9 years ago

Duration 0:23

Toronto city coun. Joe Cressy wishes Rob Ford the best in his fight against cancer and he hopes to see Ford back on the floor of council.

"The man has been a fighter his whole life and you put politics aside and you want to see him back on the floor of council,"Cressysaid.

"I'm hoping to see him soon and I'm encouraging allTorontoniansto wish him well, as you would for anybody."

Cressyhas said in the past that he hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with Ford when it comes to politics.

Last February, he said: "We may disagree, but you've got to disagree respectfully."

Coun. Joe Mihevcsaid that while he, too, may have disagreed with Ford in the past, he wants the former mayor to know the "community is behind him."

Coun. Joe Mihevc says he wishes Rob Ford 'all the best'

9 years ago

Duration 0:37

Coun. Joe Mihevc wishes Rob Ford 'all the best of strength and peace'

"There are times to fight and times to fight hard politically and there are times to basically put that behind you and recognize that there's a human being there,Mihevc said Friday.

Coun. Giorgio Mammolitioffered his best wishes, but also had some strong words for those who have been critical of Ford in the past.

Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti says Rob Ford has been 'as strong as he can be'

9 years ago

Duration 0:47

Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti asks those who have been critical of Rob Ford to 'just leave the family alone'.

"They spent their anger pointing at the man and the person," Mammoliti said.

"I want them to just leave the family alone. Let them try to get Rob as strong as they could. I think that needs to be said."

Coun. David Shiner said the discussion around Ford's health shouldn't be a political one.

'This isn't politics, this is about a person,' Coun. David Shiner says

9 years ago

Duration 0:22

Coun. David Shiner says, 'This isn't politics, this is about a person who really cared for and really cares for people in the city.'

"This is nothing about politics. This is someone who is not well who we've known and has worked very hard for the citizens of Toronto, cared about them a lot," Shiner said.

"This is about a person who really cared for and really cares for people in the city."

Well-wishers flood website set up by Ford family

There weremore than 3,300 postson a website the family set up to gather messages of supportfor Ford.

His office issued a statement Thursday in response to social media rumours that Ford had died.

The statement said Ford remains in hospital "with his family beside him as he continues to battle against cancer."

Ford's office asked for privacy and said it would issue a news release if there are any further updates regarding the Ward 2 councillor's health.

Ford's nephew, Michael Ford, who is a trustee with the Toronto District School Board, thanked supporters on Twitter Friday.

Earlier this month, Doug Ford said his brother was pursuinga targeted chemotherapy under the Panov program at Mount Sinai Hospital.

The treatment involves implanting a piece of tissue from a patient's tumour into mice, which then will take about three months to grow in the rodents.Researchers then test different chemotherapy treatments on the mice to see which drugs are most effective in decreasing the size of the tumours.

Rob Ford, 46, was hospitalizedlast October for several days and later revealed he had a growth on his bladder.In November, his brother Doug Ford confirmed thatRob had two tumours on his bladder.

Ford underwent aggressive cancer surgery last spring to remove an abdominal tumour after he was diagnosed with liposarcoma a cancer that grows in fat cells.