Oncology Surgery is the surgery of Tumours and Cancer. There are a variety of procedures to remove cancer of the abdominal organs and the precise nature of the surgery will depend on the underlying condition.
Bowel surgery may require the formation of a stoma where the bowel opens onto the surface of the abdomen. This is often only a temporary requirement and the stoma can be reversed a few months later by another, usually smaller, operation.
Most abdominal cancer surgery is major surgery even if it can be done laparoscopically (keyhole surgery).
Your surgeon will probably take more than one consultation to explain all the ramifications of your operation to you and your family, but you should feel free to ask him any questions that he has not addressed. Often bringing a support person with you will help make sure that everything has been understood.