Lifestyle Health Inside Mr. T's Cancer Battle — and How He's Inspiring Others to Fight for Their Lives The former A-Team star was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma in 1995 By Aurelie Corinthios and Patrick Gomez Patrick Gomez Patrick Gomez is the Editor in Chief/General Manager of Entertainment Weekly. Formerly at People magazine and The A.V. Club, the Critics Choice and Television Critics Association member has appeared on 'Today,' 'Extra!,' 'Access Hollywood,' 'E! News,' 'CNN,' and 'Nightline,' and can be seen frequently on 'Good Morning America.' Follow the Texas Native at @PatrickGomezLA wherever your media is social for all things 'For All Mankind' 'Top Chef,' and puppy related. People Editorial Guidelines Published on March 28, 2017 12:33 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Mr. T has already promised to shave his famous mohawk in honor of children fighting cancer if he wins Dancing with the Stars — and his inspiration stems from his own battle with the disease. The former A-Team star was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma in 1995, and he told PEOPLE after Monday’s episode, “that’s why I’m dancing.” “I’m dancing for the kids at St. Jude [Children’s Research Hospital] and Shriners [Hospitals for Children],” he said. “I want to talk about my situation to give hope to someone who has just been diagnosed,” he added. “Like a mother with her child — [I want to] tell them, ‘Hey, I come from there, but don’t quit.’ That’s why I’m doing it. That’s why I don’t want to say dancing is hard — if dancing is hard, then what’s that saying to the people out there going through cancer?” Mr. T underwent several rounds of chemotherapy over the years, and he told PEOPLE what gave him hope was his “faith in God.” “It was a test of my faith,” he said. “I’m very spiritual. In the Book of Job, he was challenged [but he] kept believing in God and that’s the message I try to tell other people. Just because you believe in God, serve God, feed the hungry, clothe the naked … that doesn’t mean things are not going to happen to you.” “I had to practice what I preached,” he continued. “I try to use my experience and the fact that I grew up in the ghetto — I tell people you don’t have to rob or steal to get out of the ghetto. I was diagnosed with cancer — I tell people you don’t have to commit suicide. We’ve got good medicine now. I want people to draw strength from me.” FROM COINAGE: The Cost of Dancing With the Stars‘ Mirrorball Trophy And when it comes to the ABC dance competition, Mr. T said he’s learning to adjust. “It’s not easy,” he admitted. “I don’t want people to think you can just get out there and dance. [It requires] a lot of practice and determination and I think a lot of celebrities don’t realize this takes time and effort. Like anything you do, you only get out of it what you put into it.” “Each week I just want improve,” he added. “My mother used to tell me the biggest room is the room for improvement.” Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays (8 p.m. ET) on ABC.