Sir Robert Abbe was a renowned surgeon from 1877-1884 in New York. Alongside his notable work in vascular replantation, intestinal operations, reconstructive surgery and the infamous Abbe flap for lip defects, he also was one of the pioneers of radiation therapy in the United States of America.1 In his time, Abbe encountered multiple squamous cell carcinomas on cutaneous skin, especially on the head and neck region. These fast-growing lesions could be surgically excised but left significant morbidity and defects. Internal, intestinal or solid organ cancers were also too risky to operate on at the time with no alternate treatment. In 1896, radium research in Europe by the Curies started gaining. Abbe sourced radium bromide and radium salt as alternative due to cost. He initially experimented by exposing radium in tubes to his own skin so to not unnecessarily harm patients.2 Then after, he treated cases of bowel cancer, cervical cancer and head and neck malignancies. He recorded patient recounts (which we now know as side effects of radiation) such as bitter taste, dry gritty mouth and more. He had several documented cases which reported reduction in pain, reduction in size of lesions albeit not without consequences. For one individual, he reports death from nephritis but his lip being ‘intact’.2 Abbe, a clinician who wore many hats has made an invaluable contribution to surgical and medical practice we still use today. 1. Robert Abbe: The life and times of a 19th century surgeon. Friedman, Steven G. 4, s.l. : Journal of Vascular Surgery, 2017, Vol. 66. 2. Robert Abbe, Radium Pioneer. HIstorical Medical Library. [Online] College of Physicians Philadelphia, 2024. https://cppdigitallibrary.org/exhibits/show/radium/abbe.