Colonoscopy prep involves passing loose stools and diarrhea for 12 to 16 hours to get the desired results. In about 25% of colonoscopies, prep is considered inadequate, which can cause problems.

"Colonoscopy is considered the gold-standard when screening for colorectal cancer," says gastroenterologist Dr. Brian McGee, MD. "It’s a safe procedure that is the only cancer screening tool that can ...

Colonoscopy is recommended for people over 45, but preparation turns off many. Here's a look at how it compares to stool tests FIT and Cologuard.

But it’s not the only option. “You can always start with a stool-based test, such as the FIT test or colo guard. These detect blood in your stool, like stool DNA, Nabi said.

If stool-based tests are used, they must be performed at more frequent intervals than a colonoscopy. Depending on the specific test, they must be repeated annually or every three years.

These stool tests also can be taken at home and mailed to a lab. FIT also doesn't have the onerous prep or potential harm of a colonoscopy.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a colonoscopy yesterday, something I have held off since getting my first one 15 years ago at age 46. The dreaded prep wasn’t as horrible as I remembered, so I am now less ...

Fortunately, colonoscopy prep has come a long way over the years, and there are now alternatives to the traditional prep. Let’s start with the traditional prep that most people have heard of.