Understand the Concepts. Master the Science. Prepare with Confidence.

Explore the core principles of Cellular Biology, Radiobiology, and Physics, from cell-cycle control and DNA damage to radiation interactions, treatment planning, dosimetry, and tissue response—with a clear, exam-focused approach to FRCR.

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Experience of Registrar who has passed the exam

FRCR oncology

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Cellular Biology

Cellular Biology for FRCR Part 1:

master the core mechanisms of cancer cell growth, cell-cycle control, DNA repair, apoptosis, metastasis and treatment targets with clear, exam-focused understanding…

  • Cancer Foundations

    What cancer is, growth disorders, dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and invasive disease.

  • Cell Cycle & Growth Control

    Cell-cycle phases, checkpoints, cyclins/CDKs, RB, p53 and abnormal growth signalling.

  • DNA, Genes & Repair

    DNA damage, repair pathways, mutations, oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and inherited cancer syndromes.

  • Cell Death & Survival

    Apoptosis, autophagy, cancer stem cells and mechanisms of treatment resistance.

  • Spread & Tumour Environment

    Metastasis, angiogenesis, hypoxia, tumour vasculature and microenvironment.

  • Immunity & Molecular Targets

    Immune escape, checkpoint pathways and key targeted treatments linked to cancer biology.

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Radiobiology

Radiobiology for FRCR Part 1:

Master how radiation affects cells, tumours and normal tissues through DNA damage and repair, cell survival, LET, RBE, oxygen effect, fractionation, BED/EQD2 and tissue tolerance with clear, exam-focused understanding.

  • Radiation Cell Kill

    DNA damage, lethal/sublethal damage, chromosome injury, direct and indirect radiation effects.

  • Cell Survival Curves

    Survival fraction, SF2, alpha beta model, radiosensitivity and interpretation of survival curves.

  • LET, RBE & Oxygen Effect

    Linear energy transfer, relative biological effectiveness, oxygen enhancement ratio and hypoxia.

  • Fractionation Principles

    Repair, repopulation, redistribution, reoxygenation, BED, EQD2 and fractionation schedules.

  • Tumour Response to Radiation

    Tumour control, radiosensitivity, cell-cycle effects, hypoxia and interaction with systemic therapies.

  • Normal Tissue Response

    Early and late effects, serial and parallel organs, tissue tolerance and retreatment principles.

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Physics

Physics for FRCR Part 1:

Master the core principles of radiotherapy physics, including radiation production, interactions with matter, dosimetry, treatment beams, planning, QA, brachytherapy and radiation protection with clear, exam-focused understanding.

  • Radiation Basics

    Atomic structure, electromagnetic radiation, X-ray/gamma production, attenuation and HVL.

  • Interactions with Matter

    Photoelectric effect, Compton scatter, pair production, secondary electrons, LET and charged particle interactions.

  • Dosimetry & Measurement

    Absorbed dose, KERMA, exposure, ion chambers, TLDs, phantoms, calibration and dose measurement.

  • Photon & Electron Beams

    Beam energy, depth dose, build-up, skin sparing, field size, penumbra, wedges, shielding and electron dose distributions.

  • Treatment Planning

    GTV, CTV, PTV, ITV, OAR, PRV, isodose curves, FSD/isocentric planning, DVH, DRR, IMRT and VMAT.


  • Linac, MLC & SABR

    Linac principles, beam production, collimation, MLCs, isocentre, motion management, SABR delivery and plan appraisal.

  • Quality Assurance

    Output, flatness, symmetry, energy, field size, IGRT checks, in vivo dosimetry, error reporting and plan verification.

  • Brachytherapy & Radioactive Sources

    Half-life, activity, inverse square law, source strength, afterloading, sealed/unsealed sources and prostate/gynae brachytherapy.

  • Radiation Protection

    Time, distance, shielding, dose equivalent, staff monitoring, controlled areas, IR(ME)R, ARSAC and room design.

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Pharmacology

Pharmacology for FRCR Part 1:

Master the core principles of systemic anti-cancer therapy, including cytotoxic drug mechanisms, targeted agents, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, dose modification, supportive medicines, analgesics and drug interactions with clear, exam-focused understanding.

  • Cytotoxic Drug Mechanisms

    Core mechanisms of chemotherapy drugs, drug classes, cell-cycle effects and mechanisms of resistance.

  • Systemic Therapy Toxicity

    Dose-limiting, acute, long-term, dose-related and idiosyncratic toxicities, including extravasation principles.

  • Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics

    AUC, half-life, clearance, metabolism, activation, plasma concentration, tissue binding and target-site exposure.

  • Clinical Use of Systemic Therapy

    Dose-response, dose intensity, single-agent versus combination therapy, high-dose therapy and multimodality interactions.

  • Supportive Medicines

    Anti-emetics, steroids, growth factors, anticoagulants and supportive drugs used alongside cancer treatment.

  • Analgesics & Co-Analgesics

    Analgesic ladder, opioids, co-analgesics, formulations, drug combinations and pain-control principles.

  • Drug Interactions & Safety

    Important interactions between cancer drugs, supportive medicines and commonly used non-cancer medications.


  • Targeted Agents & Signalling

    Molecular targeted therapies, signalling pathways, mechanisms of action and toxicity rationale.

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Statistics

Statistics for FRCR Part 1:

Master the core principles of medical statistics, including data types, sampling, confidence intervals, p-values, statistical tests, screening tests, survival analysis, clinical trial design and epidemiology with clear, exam-focused understanding.

  • Data & Summary Measures

    Data types, distributions, averages, spread, bar charts and histograms.

  • Sampling & Confidence Intervals

    Source population, random sampling, standard error, confidence intervals and reference ranges.

  • Hypothesis Testing

    P-values, Type I/II errors, statistical versus clinical significance and multiple testing.

  • Comparing Groups

    Tests for means, proportions and choosing the right statistical test.

  • Correlation & Regression

    Scatter plots, correlation, regression and interpreting associations between variables.

  • Screening Tests

    Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, accuracy and how disease prevalence changes interpretation.

  • Survival Analysis

    Kaplan-Meier curves, censoring, log-rank test, Cox regression and hazard ratios.

  • Clinical Trial Design

    Trial phases, randomisation, blinding, trial designs, sample size, interim analysis and intention-to-treat.

  • Epidemiology

    Cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies, odds ratios, risk ratios, incidence and prevalence.