Emil Grubbe furthered the use of the X-ray by using radiation therapy to reduce cancer pain. Grubbe discussed his research with another physician, J.E. Gillman, who subsequently referred to Grubbe a woman with breast cancer. Grubbe made history on this date in 1896 when he became the first doctor to use radiation therapy to treat breast cancer. Grubbe also was part of early efforts to develop protective measures against the dangers of radiation exposure. Unfortunately, these measures came too late. He died in 1960 of several forms of cancer related to his extreme exposure to radiation.

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