A project aimed at detecting the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been launched in Beijing.

The detection of lung, breast, colorectal, upper digestive tract and liver cancer will be the main focus of the project which will be fully operational by the end of June, reported the Beijing Morning Post Friday.

The project has been funded and back by the government for 5 years and about 50,000 people will be screened each year. A training program aimed at boosting cancer prevention and control in medical institutes will also be started.

Beijing has 37,000 new cancer patients every year, about 104 everyday.

Caner has become the primary cause of death in the capital, said the newspaper.