I would think that if you have to remove the handbrake handle then you would have to release the tension on the actual cable, this would mean some sort of adjustment at the brake drum end assuming its not calipers at the back, most handbrake cables I have changed split in the middle ie they are not one piece so you might be lucky and not have much slack after fitting new handle, the self adjusters on the brake drum should take up any difference, worst case scenario would be having to manually adjust brake shoes it's more akward than difficult.
I am not really an expert, I am just trying to think back to the days when I could not afford to put my car into garage for repair and had to do all my own maintenece work.

NCM