Thrombosis and Bleeding in Cancer Patients

Cancer patients show a hypercoagulable state with a high risk for thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, due to the malignancy itself as well as various therapies used. Real-world data suggest that the necessary thromboprophylaxis is still underused. In the palliative care setting, patients seem willing to accept the use of subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) injections as compared to compression stockings because of the greater efficacy. However, the advent of “direct” or “new” oral anticoagulants (direct oral anticoagulants [DOACs], novel oral anticoagulants, or non-vitamin K oral coagulants [NOACs]) is likely to change the landscape of anticoagulation in cancer patients if the current efficacy and toxicity data are confirmed.