Prostate hardening is caused by the development of cancer in the prostate. There are two ways in which prostate cancer is discovered. One test is the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and the second is the Digital Rectal Examination (DRE). It is the DRE in which a doctor inserts his fingers in the rectum of a male to feel the prostate and its condition. As cancer develops, the tissue of the prostate changes texture and hardens.
Doctors consider the DRE test to be not as effective due to the possibility of missing changes in prostate texture. However, doctors do look at other factors for prostate cancer to complement the possibility of cancer. Other factors include age, genetics, medications and ethnicity.
Treatment
Prostate cancer is treated with focused radiation treatment or removal of the entire prostate. Removal of the gland is based on the age and health of the patient as well as the condition of the tumor. If it has begun to spread beyond the tumor, a combination of the two main treatments is used.
