Doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital provided an update on Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's clinical condition Thursday evening, saying the mayor has undergone a CT scan and biopsy of the mass in his abdomen.
"There is a mass in the abdomen. We've taken a biopsy," Dr. Zane Cohen, who is the senior member of the surgical team, told reporters.
Dr. Cohen says results of Ford's biopsy won't be available for another week.
Ford has undergone a CT scan on his chest and will have an MRI Friday.
Dr. Cohen didn't specify the size of the mass in Ford's abdomen, only saying that it's a "fair size."
The mayor is "resting comfortably" with family members by his side but is in "some pain." Dr. Cohen said the mayor has been given medication to ease the pain.
Earlier on Thursday, Rob Ford was moved from Humber River Hospital to Mount Sinai Hospital after an initial CT scan spotted an abdominal tumour.
Ford's condition, combined with recent campaign drop outs, has Ford Nation wondering whether the mayor will take a break from politics while seeking treatment.
The deadline for candidates to pull out of the race is 2 p.m. Friday. Earlier this week, high-profile candidate David Soknacki withdrew his name from the race, and Karen Stintz dropped out three weeks ago.
If Ford pulls out due to health issues after the deadline, his name will remain on the ballot.
The mayor's brother, Counc. Doug Ford, was asked about Ford's condition as he arrived at Humber River Thursday morning, but would only tell reporters that he needed a "day or so" before he would speak again.
Rob Ford's wife Renata followed Doug into the building, but didn't comment.
For now, the mayor's spokesperson Amin Massoudi said Thursday that the campaign is carrying on as usual.
Massoudi asked for privacy for Ford and his family, and thanked the residents of Toronto for their outpouring of support.
In 2009, Ford had a tumour removed from his appendix, and was in hospital for less than a week.
Ford was hospitalized on two other occasions during his term as Toronto mayor, his former chief of staff Mark Towhey told CTV's Canada AM on Thursday.
"He spent some time in hospital in Toronto after developing kidney stones, and had to have those removed. He also had some breathing issues a little bit later on and spent a few nights in the hospital that he's in now," Towhey said.
The morning after Rob Ford was diagnosed with an abdominal tumour, a mayoral debate went ahead without him.
A two-hour breakfast debate hosted by the Toronto Area Interfaith Council started at 7 a.m., despite Ford's absence.
Mayoral candidate Olivia Chow started her opening statements with a quiet prayer for Ford.
"We want to collectively wish him strength in the days ahead. Our prayers are with him and his family because we want him to be back out here as soon as he can. We pray for his speedy recovery and want to send a warm wish to him and his family," she said.
John Tory echoed Chow's sentiment, sending his thoughts to Ford and his family.
"We want him to be back at these debating tables because as much as it may seem sometimes as if we're sort of in combat with one another, I think we all share a love for the city," Tory said.
Chow and Tory were questioned by members of different religious communities about the role of faith in Toronto.
