This may depend on how advanced your cancer is, if surgery is required and to what extent, and what treatment options are available to you. If caught early, colorectal cancer treatments typically have strong long-term outcomes. Advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer often presents additional challenges. As with all cancers, drug therapies may produce side effects that impact your quality of life. In some cases, surgery may be needed and a colostomy required. Colostomies may be temporary to allow the bowel to heal after surgery. But they may be permanent in cases that require extensive surgery.