I recently had a physical, but the doctor offered another option to the colonoscopy that is much simpler. It involves placing a small smear of feces on a card from three separate bowel movements. It is supposed to be just as effective in spotting cancer as the colonoscopy. There is no barium enema and no risk of a perforated colon, nor any anesthetic or missing work. You do restrict certain food items for about a week before taking the samples. This test needs to be done every year, whereas a colonoscopy can be done only every ten years.