From tomorrow, the State Government will remove co-payments for highly specialised drugs including chemotherapy.

And an innovative radiotherapy technique for early breast cancer treatment is now available under Medicare.

Firstly, the removal of co-payments will relieve cancer patients of the cost of injectable and infusible chemotherapies.

Cancer Council NSW welcomed the news as providing relief to "tens of thousands of patients across the state".

Cancer Council Southern NSW community engagement manager Jennifer Menchin said the move should be applauded.

"The removal of co-payments will ease some financial pressures many cancer patients face during treatment," Ms Menchin said.

The Cancer Council had campaigned on the issue with Southern Highlands advocates in the lead-up to the last state election.

The community was "instrumental in ... ensuring those standing for election knew about ... the need to address it," she said.

Secondly, the new technique of 30 minutes in-theatre radiation replaces six weeks of external beam radiotherapy for eligible breast cancer patients.

Medics say the new method almost completely avoids irradiating other body parts near the breast, such as the heart and lungs.

It also allows the delivery of radiotherapy in a single session at the time of surgery.

University of Western Australia researchers tested the new technique on 300 patients in a worldwide study of 2000 patients aged over 45.

The research found 30 minutes of in-theatre radiation was as effective as six weeks' external beam radiotherapy with less side-effects.

The Medicare-subsidised treatment could also mean reduced waiting lists and savings for health-care systems, medics say.

The new radiotherapy technique is available for peri- or post-menopausal women aged over 45 who meet strict criteria.

More information about the removal of chemotherapy co-payments is available at health.nsw.gov.au