A Perth cancer patient said his radiation treatment time was cut from three months to three weeks after being one of the first 500 West Australians to use a break-through treatment.

Brett Smith underwent targeted radiation treatment using the CyberKnife in February after being diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2013 and undergoing surgery and chemotherapy in 2014.

The $9m CyberKnife hovers over the body, shooting high-dose blasts of radiation at tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Credit:CyberKnife

Unlike its name implies, the procedure does not cut the skin but rather hovers over the body, shooting high-dose blasts of radiation at tumours with pinpoint accuracy while the patient is lying down.

WA is the only Australian state to use the $9 million machine, which was introduced nearly two years ago, and it's delivering beneficial results, the Health Department said.