No, 26 definitely isn't very high. It goes well up into the 100s. People have even gotten scores of 1,000. 

And anyway, all the test tells you is that there is blood in your stool. There are dozens of possible reasons for this and at 39, no family history of cancer and with a score of 26, the odds of cancer are pretty low. In general, about one in ten positive results are supposed to be cancer, but that is including elderly people with scores well into the hundreds, so I would imagine in your case, the odds are much lower.

The most likely thing is that you have hemorrhoids or a fissure. Less likely would be a polyp or ulcerative colitis or Crohn's or an infection or something and cancer would be well down the list.

At 40 I had rectal bleeding, weight loss, occasional loose stools (maybe once or twice a week) and trapped wind. Because this was after our health service here in Ireland was hacked, I didn't get a FIT test. The test I did have was negative but I don't think that's as sensitive and the consultant said that I'd be "the unluckiest person in the world" if it turned out to be cancer.

You should definitely get it checked out, because well, things like a polyp, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's would need treatment too and even cancer probably needs to be ruled out because a small chance isn't the same as no chance, but the odds are very much in favour of it being something really minor.

Thanks MargaretMary.. that is reassuring! Also i forgot to mention in my message that I did have anal fissures around the time the sample was taken and also noticed a lot of mucus in the stools...

I honestly wouldn't worry as Margaret says it can go up into the hundreds and still be ok ,its more likely to be something really simple not serious but its still best to get it checked out for your own piece of mind .