Venous thromboembolism is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The main initial therapy for thromboembolism is anticoagulation for a period of three months (active treatment period). The aim of treatment beyond three months is prevention of recurrence. The duration of anticoagulation is being determined by the degree of provocation leading to the thromboembolic event, but other factors like the patient's gender, oral contraceptive use, cancer etc. may influence the period of anticoagulation. The direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are as effective as warfarin with less major bleeding events. Despite their growing use, it is important to remember that there is still a lack of evidence about their safety and efficacy in many clinical situations. Preliminary evidence for their efficacy in venous thromboembolic diseases (VTE) in cancer patients has been published. In this article we will address these and other issues arising in treating VTE by discussing common clinical scenarios.