Could degenerative back disc desease be an oncoming symptom of prostate cancer? My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 (Gleason score 10) prostate cancer 5 years ago at the age of 53. He had previously been diagnosed with degenerative back disease at the age of 34. Throughout the past 15 years his lower back pain very gradually increased, which is the pain that lead to him making several visits to the emergency room and his doctor the year before he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He experienced severe increasing lower back pain throughout the last 5 years of his life; and within the last year, frequent painful urination and blood in his urine and lymphnode/groin swelling and lesions.