Three cancer drugs have been made dramatically cheaper after their inclusion in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

An announcement from Health Minister Tanya Plibersek says 17 listings have been added or amended on the roll of Government-subsidised drugs. These include cancer drugs which previously cost $100,000 for a course, now available for less than $40.

The abortion pill RU846 has been added to the list too which has caused some controversy, the pill had previously cost $800. Ms Plibersek says listing the pill does not change any part of the legal position on abortion or the number of women seeking a termination; it only expands their range of options.  

Treatments for skin, breast and prostate cancer have also been added, including Ipilimumab and Abiraterone. Tilly Ryan from Melanoma Patients Australia has praised the move, saying "our members will no longer have to look at selling their homes to access treatment.”

Cancer survivor Christine Bleigie says Ipilimumab costs more than $110,000 a year and was not affordable to most sufferers of malignant melanoma, "we have people in our melanoma patient support groups that are just waiting on this drug to be on the PBS listing because they just can't afford it," she said.

The subsidy for breast cancer treatment Vinorelbine has also been extended.