9095 Background: Cancer health disparities are due in part to barriers faced by patients of low socioeconomic status. The objective of this multi-institutional study was to characterize barriers to care faced by newly-diagnosed cancer patients. Methods: Study subjects were breast and colorectal cancer patients randomized to patient navigation in a trial of patient navigation. Multiple in-person and telephone interviews assessed barriers to care faced by patients. A standardized template and data dictionary were used. The chi-square test for independence was used to test differences between low-income (<$20K) and higher income patients. Results: 216 breast (82%) and colorectal cancer patients participated in the study. 46% had income < $20,000, and 45.8% were minority race/ethnicity (24% black, 22% Hispanic). Patients faced a median of 6.2 unique barriers, and this number surprisingly did not differ between low and higher income categories (6.3 v. 6.1 p=0.24). The most common barriers were (by decreasing frequency): (1) logistical problems with scheduling care; (2) fear; (3) transportation; (4) financial problems; (5) lack of social/practical support; (6) health insurance problems; (7) poor communication with medical personnel; (8) medical/mental health comorbidity; (9) non-English language; and (10) perceptions/beliefs about tests and treatments. Low-income patients were significantly more likely to have barriers related to adult care (32% v. 18%, p=0.02), medical/mental health comorbidity (77% v. 61%, 0.02), housing (39% v. 14%, p=0.00), and financial problems (84% v. 72%, p=0.04). Low income patients also had significantly more low health literacy, low educational attainment, minority race/ethnicity, non-English language, unmarried status, unemployment, public health insurance, and comorbidity. Conclusions: Newly-diagnosed cancer patients face a spectrum of barriers to care, and these affect both low and higher income patients. Low-income patients are particularly vulnerable to barriers related to adult care, comorbidity, housing, and financial problems. These data increase our understanding of patient factors that may interfere with cancer care, and can inform the design of interventions to address cancer health disparities.