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Update on March 22 , 2016 :

Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford died on Tuesday , March 22 , after his combat with a rare and fast - grow cancer call in pleomorphic liposarcoma , the Associated Press   reported .

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Ford ’s home released a statement : " With ponderous heart and soul and profound sadness , the Ford family announces the passing of their darling boy , brother , husband , and father , Councillor Rob Ford , in the beginning today at the age of 46 . A dedicated military man of the people , Councillor Ford pass his life serve the citizens of Toronto . "

Live Science published this clause ( below ) , on Sept. 18 , 2014 , at the clock time of Ford ’s diagnosis :

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been diagnose with an extremely uncommon and fast - growing Crab , shout out pleomorphic liposarcoma , one of his doctors annunciate yesterday ( Sept. 17 ) .

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Dr. Zane Cohen , one of the physicians treating Ford , said the tumor is about 2 to 3 twelvemonth old , and draw it as " very rare " and " very hard , " according tothe Associated Press . The cancer is pass around and the mayor will soon experience intensive chemotherapy , said Cohen , who is a colorectal surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto .

Liposarcoma is one type of " sarcoma , " which are cancers that arise from soft tissue paper such as fat , joints , muscle , nerve or blood vessels . Liposarcoma start out in the connective tissue paper , with genus Cancer cell that resemble fat cell , according tothe Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative , a nonprofit group that preach for people with sarcoma .   ( In contrast , cancers that develop from the tissue line the organs are called carcinomas or adenoma . )

indulgent tissue paper sarcomas are not very common — they answer for forless than 1 percent of all cancersin adults . In 2014 , an forecast 12,000 mass in the United States will be diagnose with these cancers , and about 4,700 masses will die of these cancers , according to the American Cancer Society ( ACS ) . For comparison , about 136,000 people are diagnosed with Aspinwall Crab yearly , and 232,000 people are diagnosed with breast Cancer the Crab . [ The 10 Deadliest   Cancers   and Why There ’s No remedy ]

a 3d illustration of cancer cells depicted in pink

Ford ’s cancer , pleomorphic liposarcoma , is the rare subtype of liposarcoma . Pleomorphic means that all cell within the tumour look unlike in sizing and shape under a microscope .

Ford ’s tumor , measure about 5 inch by 5 inches ( 12 centimeters by 12 atomic number 96 ) , and was found in his venter , Cohen said . Liposarcomas can develop anywhere in the soundbox , but are most often found in the second joint , behind the knee or inside the back of the abdomen , according to the ACS . Patients are often diagnosed with this Cancer the Crab between ages 50 and 65 . Ford is 45 geezerhood one-time .

It ’s not clear what causes liposarcoma , or what factor may increase a person ’s endangerment of developing it . sealed inherited conditions that involve defects in several genes are cerebrate to increase a person ’s risk of grow soft tissue sarcomas . People may also develop sarcomas from radiation treatments they receive for another cancer , according to the ACS .

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A few studies have take care at whether smoke , pledge and using other drugs may affect the risk of get sarcomas , but no clear link has been plant . One study , published inthe American Journal of Epidemiologyin 1989 , that reckon at 228 citizenry with flabby tissue cancers and 1,610 sizable people , ground a greater risk of sarcomas among those who chew tobacco .

However , another study of 93 sarcoma patients and 721 healthy people did n’t discover a inter-group communication between risk of infection of lenient tissue sarcoma and smoke and alcohol ingestion , according to the finding published in thejournal Cancer Causes and Controlin 1991 . One study even encounter smoking was linked to lower risk of developinga type of sarcoma .

Ford ’s doctors say newsman that they plan to administrate two unit of ammunition of chemotherapy to him over the next 40 day . They will then tax whether his tumor has respond , and whether operating room is need .

A multi-colored microscope image of tissue infected with nocardiosis. The image is mainly pink and purple in color.

About 56 percent of patients with pleomorphic liposarcoma live for at least five years after their diagnosing , according to the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative .

Ford withdrew from his re - election political campaign after being hospitalise for his treatment . His brother , Doug Ford , has replaced him on the mayoral ballot .

Additional reporting by Sara G. Miller .

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