Toronto Mayor Rob Ford walks by a screen displaying budget numbers during a Capital and Operating Budgets meeting at City Hall in Toronto
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford walks by a screen displaying budget numbers during a Capital and Operating Budgets meeting at City Hall in Toronto, January 22, 2014. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Doug Ford, brother of embattled and very sick Mayor Rob of Toronto, has officially launched his campaign to replace his ailing brother.

The municipal election is scheduled on October 27. The older Ford said he is running on a "vision of continuing prosperity" for the city.

The younger Ford been diagnosed with liposarcoma, a rare type of cancer. It is a malignant tumour that occurs in fat cells in deep soft tissue. It is most commonly found in the legs or thighs, as well as in the abdomen, back, arms, chest, and neck. According to portal drugs.com, liposarcomas most often occur in people between 50 to 70 years old.

Liposarcoma is the second most common of all soft-tissue sarcomas after malignant fibrous histiocytomas. Every year only 2.5 cases per million population occur.

Rob had been advised by doctors to focus on getting better.

As such, the two brothers exchanged positions for the upcoming elections - Doug running for the mayoral post, while Rob will run to replace Doug as councillor of Toronto's Ward 2.

"He's coaching me all the way," Doug said of Rob's involvement in his campaign.

Prior to becoming Toronto's chief municipal leader, Rob was Toronto Ward 2's councilor from 2000 until 2010.

Doug said his mayoral agenda is basically simple, to continue Rob's slowed spending as well as encourage the construction of subway lines in Toronto instead of street-level light-rail transit.

"Last week, I asked my brother to carry the torch and continue the work that we started together," the younger Ford sibling said in a recorded audio statement. "I'm happy that he's agreed. Toronto needs Doug Ford as mayor."

"We are humbled and grateful for the overwhelming support," Doug said.

Dr. Zane Cohen, one of the incumbent mayor's doctors, said the tumour is aggressive.

Local reports said Mayor Rob will be undergoing chemotherapy to treat his malignant tumour, and then spend most of the following 18 days at home.

John Tory and Olivia Chow, contender for the Toronto mayoral post, both sent their well-wishes for the incumbent mayor.