A portable and wearable tumor detector includes a brassier and devices for enabling optical tomography in a non-clinical setting. Light emitting devices and light sensing devices are provided on the brassier, and a controller for performing a tomographic scanning is attached to the brassier. A computing means and a communication means may be provided to generate at least one tomographic image. Each of the two breasts under examination can be employed as a reference structure for generating a tomographic image for the other of the two breasts, thereby providing a self-referencing image generation mechanism. The images and/or data can be reviewed by the subject of the tomographic scanning or by a medical professional. The tomographic scanning can be performed at any location if provided with a portable power supply system.
