Former Toronto mayor Rob Ford was in a hospital receiving care that is “palliative in nature,” his family said Monday as he continues his battle with cancer.

The 46-year-old politician has not been transferred to a palliative care unit, although his family is by his side around the clock, a spokesman, Dan Jacobs, said in a statement on behalf of Ford’s family.

The Ontario Medical Association describes palliative care as treatment that focuses on relief of pain and other symptoms which “creates a positive experience to replace suffering and pain in order to provide dignity at the end of life.”

Ford was diagnosed with cancer in September 2014. The illness forced him to withdraw his bid for re-election as mayor and he ran instead for a city council seat, winning in a landslide despite his notoriety.

His term as mayor included slurs against minorities, lewd remarks about his personal life and his admission of crack cocaine and alcohol abuse.

Ford has had nine chemotherapy treatments so far. Late last week, his family released a statement saying he was going through a “difficult time.”

Jacobs said doctors have been “very concerned” with the reappearance and progression of Ford’s cancer.

“But everyone is hopeful that his body will be able to fight back enough that he can then undergo further treatment,” he said.

(AP)