Objective To study the relationship between psychological capital and quality of life (QL) in cancer patients and search for better corresponding nursing strategies. Methods Investigating psychological capital state in cancer patients, and analyzing the relationship between social support score and QL. Results Cancer patients′ positive psychological capital score were low: The total score were 74.33 ± 20.04, self-efficacy 20.87 ± 6.64, hope 22.12 ± 6.04, toughness 20.35 ± 5.65, and optimism 12.36 ± 5.55. Cancer patients had low quality of life, quality of life scores were 59.57±0.57, body condition 15.32± 5.90, psychological condition 47.74 ± 10.22, social function 20.46 ± 5.19,family situation 18.93 ± 8.89, total score 115.48±20.19;The psychological capital and quality of life of cancer patients were positively related (r = 0.517, P < 0.01), cancer patients dimensions of psychological capital was positively correlated with the dimensions of quality of life (r =0.189-0.517, P < 0.01). Conclusions Cancer patients′ positive psychological capital and the quality of life both need to be improved; Cancer patients′ psychological capital are closely related to the quality of life and we should pay attention to improve the patients′psychological capital so as to better their quality of life during the care process.