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The Barber
He cut every hair he could see. He never took off the hat.
A stool DNA test can detect signals without seeing inside the colon; it cannot remove a polyp. Colonoscopy examines the colon directly and can remove polyps it finds.
The evidence behind it
The full caption
He cut every hair he could see. He never took off the hat.
This fictional visual analogy highlights direct examination and polyp removal. It is not a clinical comparison of screening outcomes. A stool DNA test can detect signals without seeing inside the colon; it cannot remove a polyp.
Colonoscopy can find and remove detected precancerous polyps during the same exam. It can also miss lesions and has preparation, sedation, bleeding, perforation, and other burdens or risks. Stool-based screening remains a guideline-supported option; a positive stool test requires colonoscopy. Choose a screening plan you can complete with your clinician.