A diagnostic assembly (30, 320) and method for detecting a presence of cancer in a breast of a patient. The diagnostic assembly (20, 320) comprises a frame (22, 322), at least one cold bar (26, 326, 426) supported by the frame (22, 322) for receiving a hand of the patient, and a temperature controller (72) in communication with the cold bar (26, 326, 426) to maintain a constant temperature of the cold bar (26, 326, 426). The method comprises the steps of cooling at least one hand of the patient and recording a test thermal image of the breast of the patient after the hand of the patient has been cooled. The step of cooling the hand of the patient includes receiving the hand of the patient on the cold bar (26, 326, 426) to transfer heat from the hand of the patient to the cold bar (26, 326, 426), and maintaining the cold bar (26, 326, 426) at a preselected temperature.
