changing inside door handle 03 accord

Trying to replace the drivers side inside door handel on a 03 Accord. Got hte handle loose from the door, but the handle is attached to a cable that is hard to grasp to change. If you lose the cable, it goes inside the door panel and is lost unless you take entire door panel off. Does that need to be done? thanks:banghead:

Is it a cable or metal rod? Earlier Hondas used a metal rod held to the door realase with a plastic snap clip.

It is a cable and seems to be stretched pretty tight - wouldn't want to drop it inside the door

Based on http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/prddisplay.jsp?inputstate=5&catcgry1=Accord&catcgry2=2003&catcgry3=4DR+EX&catcgry4=KA5AT&catcgry5=FRONT+DOOR+LOCKS the cable is inside a exterior casing, so if you can grab the casing the cable will not go very far. To grab it you can use something like hemostats, or clamping pliers.