Abstract: Objective To analyze the discovery approach and economic burden of six kinds of common cancers patients in Beijing and to provide policy advice to cancer control. Methods The questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain discovery approach，treatment costs and other related information of cancer patients in four hospitals in Beijing. Results 49.9% of the respondents were local patients from Beijing；80.2% of the patients were firstly found until diagnosed due to discomfort symptoms; for average hospitalization medical costs in Beijing，colon cancer was the highest(￥50885.1/time)，meanwhile，for average non-medical costs，esophagus cancer was the highest(￥6596.5/time). Overall incidence of catastrophic health expenditure in cancer patient families was 60.1%. Conclusion The most reported discovery approach of cancer was seeing doctor when the patient felt unwell. Economic burden for cancer patient is high, meanwhile the compensation level of basic health insurance for the patient is still limited now. The risk assessment of cancer for high-risk population should be integrated into primary public health service. The reimbursement policy should be adjusted to improve the compensation level of basic health insurance for the cancer patients.