The actress opened up about her family's health crisis while accepting the Breakthrough Performer Award at the 2015 Industry Dance Awards & Cancer Benefit on Wednesday (19Aug15) for her Broadway debut role in Gigi, and used her acceptance speech to talk about her own brushes with the disease.

The former High School Musical star, 26, said, "Last year, my boyfriend, Austin (Butler), lost his mom, Lori, to cancer, and my dad has just been recently diagnosed with stage four cancer. Let me tell you, I hate cancer. I hate cancer with every cell of my being."

Fighting back tears, she added, "This award, it means a lot to me but I dedicate it to my boyfriend's mom, Lori, my dad, and to all the families out there who are struggling with this, because it really takes a strong person and a strong family to be able to help those out who are going through this."

Butler accompanied Hudgens to the gala in Los Angeles.